Sunderland Vs Arsenal: Confirmed Lineups

Sunderland boss Paolo Di Canio has made several changes from the side that lost to Crystal Palace before the international break. Valentin Roberge comes in to replace the suspended captain John O'Shea at centre-back, whilst Ki Sung-Yueng starts in midfield for his Sunderland debut.

Elsewhere Charis Mavrias gets handed his first start in place of Emmanuele Giaccherini, who picked up a hamstring injury whilst away with Italy last week, and Steven Fletcher and US Men's Ninja Turtles star Jozy Altidore are selected up front together for the first time.

Celustka and Jack Colback both retain their places at full-back (with new signing Andrea Dossena still understood to be a little while away from full fitness), and surprisingly David Vaughan retains his place in the centre of midfield alongside new-boy Ki despite disappointing in his recent appearances against MK Dons and Crystal Palace.

Most fans would have predicted it would be Vaughan, rather than Larsson, who dropped out of the midfield to allow Ki a place in the first XI.

On the bench, Wes Brown starts his return from his short-term injury just before the season kicked off with a seat on the bench, and Craig Gardner also returns and is fit enough for a substitute spot. After coming under heavy criticism from both fans and manager for his performances against MK Dons and Crystal Palace, Ji Dong-won is dropped from the bench to be replaced by new loan signing Fabio Borini.

The big surprise on the bench is that there is no room for Cabral. The former Basel midfielder was dropped from the first team after an impressive opening day appearance against Fulham, and now is unable to even make the bench.

Sunderland (4-4-2): Keiren Westwood; Ondrej Celustka, Modibo Diakite, Valentin Roberge, Jack Colback; Adam Johnson (c), Seung-Yong Ki, David Vaughan, Charis Mavrias; Steven Fletcher, Jozy Altidore.

Substitutes: Vito Mannone, Wes Brown, Carlos Cuellar, Seb Larsson, Craig Gardner, Connor Wickham, Fabio Borini.

Meanwhile Arsene Wenger has opted to hand a first start to £42.5million-man Mesut Ozil, who appears at the expense of Santi Cazorla. Elsewhere Mathieu Flamini also makes his second debut for Arsenal in a midfield also containing Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey. In defence Carl Jenkinson, sent off in this fixture last season, comes in for the ill Per Mertesacker with Bacary Sagna moving to centre-back to replace him.

Arsenal's front three of Ozil, Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud should prove a tough test for Sunderland's defence, with a good blend of creativity, finishing prowess and pace.

Arsenal's bench features Thomas Vermaelen on his return from injury, as well as three of their promising youth products; Myaichi, Akpon and Gnarby.

Arsenal (4-3-3): Wojciech Szczesny; Carl Jenkinson, Bacary Sagna (c), Laurent Koscielny, Kieran Gibbs; Aaron Ramsey, Mathieu Flamini, Jack Wilshere; Theo Walcott, Olivier Giroud, Mesut Ozil.

Substitutes: Lukasz Fabianski, Thomas Vermaelen, Nacho Monreal, Emannuel Frimpong, Ryo Myaichi, Chuba Akpon, Serge Gnarby

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